The Price Of Graffiti

Stafford

Our Towns

August 21, 1998

T he recent vandalism at two Stafford schools could be an instructive opportunity. These distasteful episodes should have families talking about why youngsters should care when graffiti artists defile public property.

The first of two weekend incidents was discovered earlier this month at St. Edward's parochial school. Obscene, racist and anti-Semitic words and symbols were painted on the walls of two Benton Street school buildings. On the following Monday, obscenities and other graffiti were found in several spots at Borough Elementary School. Two teenagers confessed. Later, four 14-year-olds were arrested in connection with the incidents and charged with violating a state hate-crimes law. Whether the vandals' motivation was bigotry, meanness or mischief, their destructiveness was wrong and hurtful. For students, the graffiti violated space that, in many ways, belongs to them. The schools are theirs to learn in, feel safe in and be proud of. They can't let vandals diminish that sense of comfort and pride.

The parish priest made sure enough graffiti remained visible at St. Edward's to show parishioners what happened. He's right to want people to know these shouldn't be just written off as childish pranks. Tolerating small acts of criminal behavior can encourage more serious crimes.

Vandalism slows the work of getting ready for the new term. If a local cleaning service hadn't done the work on one building at St. Edward's for free, money needed for the school would have been wasted. At Borough School, the maintenance staff was diverted from opening day preparations.

The graffiti has been mostly cleaned up. Those involved will have to make up for their misdeeds in other ways. Whatever their punishment, it should make a statement that these acts won't be tolerated.